Curse of black gold

Almost three years after a gas explosion and fire outbreak devastated Koluama clan, comprising of three oil-producing communities in Bayelsa State, the people still suffer the effects of the tragedy hoping that President Goodluck Jonathan will keep his words to them, writes Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

In the place of the fish are strange weeds that are alien to that area. These weeds also hamper fishing activities. Sea levels have also risen dramatically and local residents are attributing this to the events of January 2012.

The Federal Government and Chevron have reneged on promises they made during their visits. The palliatives promised by the President have also not materialised.

The N120million given by Chevron in so-called ex-gratia gesture was not meant to replace a proper and formal assessment of damage and compensation to be paid to communities and individuals.

Koluama threatened by ocean surge

Obviously, all is not well with Koluama. The water level has risen. Indeed, a surge from the Atlantic Ocean is threatening to swallow the Koluama communities. The tidal current of the sea rose, overflew its bank and emptied into the Koluama River.

Residents of the communities located along the banks of Koluama River are exposed to the direct attack of waves and tidal currents from the sea. Panic-stricken traditional rulers of the communities and other indigenes of Koluama are panic-stricken. Recently, some of the traditional rulers raised the alarm over the threats by the sea to wash away the communities.

The waters are waiting for restoration. Aquatic lives are mourning their dead ones and the entire environment, offshore, onshore Koluama are dying in patience.

The people now wallow in abject poverty having lost their means of livelihood to that January 16, 2012 explosion and blow-out at Chevron’s North Apoi oil/gas rig.

The event of the early hours of January 16, 2012 reversed the fortunes and depleted the commonwealth of Koluama, a community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. It was not just Koluama, other communities of Eneni, Fishtown, Foropah, Ezetu 1&2, Sangana commonly called the KEFFES, including the Atlantic Ocean, Nigerian common heritage, were harmfully impacted by that unforgettable incident.

On that fateful day, Chevron’s oil/gas rig exploded and caused great tremor in the ocean. The explosion reverberated and shook the foundations of buildings in communities located many kilometres away. It, indeed, rocked the earth.

The explosion, then ignited a ring of fire said to be 50 metres in diameter and rose to about 150 metres in height. The fire consumed the entire S.K Endeavour rig, comparable to the size of three football fields. It was immediately confirmed that the incident claimed the lives one French and one Indian nationals and compelled Chevron to evacuate 152 people. The fire raged for over 40 days before it was eventually put out.

Crisis management

Many experts believe that the Koluama oil/gas spill incident could only be compared to the Bonga oil spill that occurred at the Gulf of Mexico. Some even insist that it was greater than the Bonga incident.

But while the Bonga incident was responsibly managed by both the government and the indicted oil company, the Koluama incident has revealed the irresponsibility and impunity of both the government and many oil firms operating in the country.

For instance, when the incident happened, civil society groups like the Environmental Right Action (ERA), National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND) and other environmental experts rushed to the scene. But it took over a month for the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, who hails from Bayelsa State to visit the site of the incident.

Also, it took President Goodluck Jonathan about two months to visit Koluama. The management of Chevron refused to visit the site until the time the minister belatedly went to the area.

Basket of failed Promises

Among the early callers at Koluama shortly after the incident was the former acting Governor of the state, Mr. Nestor Binabo. He read the riot act to oil multinationals, including Chevron, the culprit.

He threatened legal action against the company amidst applauses by chiefs and youths in the communities. But Binabo could not fulfill his promises because of his brief stay in office.

Then came Mrs. Allison-Madueke, and her entourage. She came on a chopper and hovered around the burning rig. Eventually, she met with the people. In fact, her visit did not make any positive impact on the affected communities.

The deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) went to Koluama on behalf of his boss. He toured the affected areas on a speedboat to assess the damage done by the explosion.

Decrying the level of environmental pollution suffered by the communities, Jonah said: “It is nostalgic, especially when one sees the fishing settlements. They remain the same as they used to be in those days, as nothing seems to have changed. However, one thing that has changed is that the environment has suffered and is still suffering much pollution.

“In those days the environment was not polluted and we had things as natural as they were created. And this is where we are concerned, because the environment is dying slowly at our expense. And we need to do something about it.”

He insisted that oil companies should apply the same standards obtainable in Mexico and their home countries to Nigeria. He lamented that the pollution was capable of leading to slow death among the residents, and promised that the government would respond to all the issues after proper investigations.

“One thing is clear, and that is the fact that the same laws that govern the oil industry in the home countries of oil companies apply here; it cannot be different. So, if what we are experiencing now is wrong in America where Chevron comes from, it is wrong here too. This should be the standard and we should not expect anything less,” Jonah said.

Also, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly passed a two-point resolution imploring the Federal Government and Chevron to urgently send relief materials and medical team to all the communities affected by the incident.

They further asked Chevron to pay adequate compensation to all the affected communities. They regretted that nothing significant had been done to alleviate the suffering of the people.

The lawmakers regretted that due to hunger, the neglected people were forced to eat contaminated fish. They condemned the activities of oil multinationals operating in the state, regretting that the law had debarred state assemblies from legislating on such matters.

But the most expected visitor, Jonathan, went to Koluama on February 27, 2012 – about two months after the incident. The people were angry that it took the President, their kinsman, a long time to visit them. But they were still happy as they believed that Jonathan’s coming would restore their losses.

The President gave them his words. He assured them of his readiness to address the environmental problems caused by the explosion. He directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to distribute relief materials to all the communities affected by the explosion.

Jonathan asked that Chevron should pay compensation to the affected communities, adding that such compensation would be determined by the outcome of investigations to be carried out on the damage done by the explosion. He directed Mrs Allison-Madueke to liaise with Chevron on the issue of employment for the indigenes of the affected communities.

It was, indeed, a basket of promises. On March 6, 2012, a chopper carrying the Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, landed on the Koluama island. Kuku claimed to have come on the orders of Jonathan. He described the explosion as the worst in the history of hazards in oil and gas industry.

Kuku decried the attitude of oil companies in the region and said he was directed by Jonathan to commence skill acquisition programme for youths and women of the impacted communities.

He confirmed that the spill had polluted the source of drinking water in the communities, observing that the people of the area had been denied their means of livelihood.

He faulted the initial claims by Chevron that the emitting gas was not hazardous and asked the company to take responsibility for the incident instead of making excuses.

“When I heard about the gas well blowout and the usual complaint of oil multinationals, I was very bitter. It is a sophisticated gas explosion that is the worst in the history of hazards in oil and gas in the entire world.

“I have gone round the entire environment before I landed and I have seen how the rivers were all gone. I have seen that you can no longer drink from the water.

“You can no longer swim in the river. I saw very thick level of spillage in the entire river. The explosion is hazardous to the community and the entirety of Ijaw land and it must be treated the same way.

“Chevron and the Federal Government must treat this as a hazard to humanity. We must share the burden of dealing with the issues. Chevron must take its responsibility and the Federal Government must take its responsibility,” Kuku said.

Reading Mr. President’s message to the community, Kuku said Jonathan had “directed his office to visit the eight impacted communities, explore opportunities of training and manpower development for the people.”

The grand conspiracy and Jonathan’s question

Curiously, all the August visitors to Koluama spoke in one voice. They agreed on the high level of devastation caused by the incident. They called for adequate compensation and ordered Chevron to remediate the environment.

But about three years after the incident, nothing has been done by the leaders to redeem their promises. All the institutions of government are keeping sealed lips over the matter. It is as if Koluama never existed and the incident never happened.

Koluama woes continue

The state Representative of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Mr. Alagoa Morris, said his investigations showed that the petroleum products that were emptied into the sea and waterways from the exploded rig wreaked immediate havoc.

Evidence abound to show that whales, fish and other aquatic animals died and floated in the water after the incident. The water was polluted with oil residues and dead varieties of fish which were later found by the locals were contaminated. They could not be eaten. Other aquatic lives ran as far as their wings could carry them to areas beyond the reach of the fishermen. The water was empty.

Curiously, when the people whose occupation is manly fishing thrust their nets, they could only catch strange weeds. The weeds from the bottom of the sea encircled the fishing nets and damaged them at last.

Alagoa noted that strange odious chemical, which is thicker than oil, was released into the waterways from the oil rig.

He said: “During the cause of ERA/FoEN’s investigations on 18th January and 23rd January, 2012, I saw with my eyes how dead fishes, big and small were floating in great numbers on the highly polluted water off-Koluama. The surface of the water was covered with very thick substance [chemical] that displayed several colours, even like lead in some places and appeared like different coloured carpet drawings.

“Some of the fishes were noticed struggled to stay alive; in throes of death. We took some into the speedboat. Samples of the chemical on the water were also collected and we took it to our office and still have them till date. We observed that the chemical in question is heavier than crude oil; from the way it behaves where we still have it stored.

“Although the chemical come and settle on the surface of the bottle [on top of the water], with the slightest shake; it begins to move down on its own; showing heaviness. This is a direct contrast from crude oil on water.

“With this characteristic feature of the chemical, one can deduce that; with the turbulent nature of the Sea current; this chemical is still being tossed back and forth in the environment and hence, continue to impact the environment negatively; especially aquatic lives. Besides, the stench from the chemical is very offensive; far worse than crude oil”, he said.

He said every reasonable person had expected Chevron and the government to do two things. One of them according to him is to ensure proper study of the spread of the pollutant and carry out effective clean-up. Secondly, he said those impacted in all the communities; not just limited to KEFFES communities, should be compensated for general and specific damages or losses.

He said compensation should take into consideration all the months and years of making the fisher folks remain idle as a result of the destruction in the environment occasioned by the multiple explosions and toxic chemicals. He lamented that the strange weeds the people now catch in their fishing nets as fish, are emitting very offensive odour.

Morris said: “Unless this is done and urgently because the government and Chevron are already failed, the scenario would only be adding to the negative trends and sailing injustice in the Nigerian oil industry; supported by government.

“We are urging Chevron to commence moves to clean-up the impacted environment and pay adequate compensation to all individuals and communities impacted by the 16th January, 2012 incident. We do not need any scientific proof; we see and captured some of the impacts on marine lives: Crayfish, fishes of different sizes; including Dolphins and Whales died as a direct result of that incident.

“Follow-up investigations have also revealed that the people who once depended on the Seas are no more making ends meet due to lack of fish in the impacted environment; even the few caught are still producing the smell of strange chemicals.

“Since the protection of lives and property and happiness of the people is the responsibility of all legitimate governments; if the federal and state government continue to do nothing to ensure the protection of communities from environmental terrorists like is currently shown on this matter and, also fail to secure the happiness of our people; then it would amount to irresponsibility on the part of government.

“Such governments, so failing; also should lack the moral and legal justification to continue receiving revenue from resources gotten from the environment of the victims of environmental terrorism. Just as BP was not allowed to escape justice and was made to promptly deposit huge sums of money even before the fire was extinguished; the Nigerian government should rise to the occasion in defense of her citizens. Anything less is not acceptable”.

Morris echoed the disappointment of many people. “What has elicited some semblance of surprise is the obvious fact that this is still sailing when, after so much struggle; a Niger Deltan is the chief occupant of the seat of political power in the country as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Obi said NACGOND’s interest in the matter was borne out f its concern for the environment and livelihood of ordinary Nigerians who live in areas when oil companies operate.

“When their lives are impaired on account of the oil industry, NACGOND finds common cause with them. This s why we are sending a clear message to Chevron that they cannot run from accountability for their environmental crimes in the Niger Delta.

“We wish to put them on notice that NACGOND will not look away on the matter of their explosion at North Akpoi. We urge them to engage transparently with these communities and constitute structures that will deliver justice to the affected communities, if for nothing else, at least to make good the bad impression that people have of them as an insensitive, elusive and untruthful organisation”, he said.

NACGOND made special entreaties to Governor Seriake Dickson. Obi reminded Dickson of his initial passion for justice when the incident occurred.

“We call on Governor Dickson to reignite his initial passion and vigilance against what he called ‘Environmental Terrorism’ on that occasion and make good his promise to set up a technical committee to get to the root of this matter and to properly assess the impacts of this incident on our very vital environment and fragile ecology in the immediate, mediums and long term.

“We call on the minister of the Petroleum Resources to immediately revisit and activate regulatory machinery to coerce Chevron to attend to the matters arising from these communities for the sake of peace. For those who live in fragile ecosystems, like the communities along the coastline where Chevron operates,their environment is in fact their life,” he said.

Will tomorrow be better?

Life is difficult for the people of the impacted communities. The breadwinners are mourning their lost ground, as they now find it difficult to feed their dependants. They only roam the rivers and return in the evening sometimes with poisoned fish. No wonder Edi-Mangi, Leghemo and Ogboinbiri-Mienye have found it difficult to smile these days and they are likely to remain in bad mood until all the promises made to the communities impacted by the Chevron rig explosion are fulfilled.

t is morning. Bright and beautiful but the traditional rulers of Koluama Clan, King S.E. Edi-Mangi; Koluama 1, JTC Leghemo and Koluama ll, N.E. Ogboinbiri-Mienye, have no light in their eyes. They are supposed to be happy ruling over a prosperous clan. But like their people, they are not happy. At times, they even feel lost and hopeless.

It will be three years next January 16 since a gas explosion and fire outbreak from the gas drilling rig, K.S. Endevour, owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited caused earth tremors and vibrations in the communities.

“Several houses in the communities suffered cracks in their walls and foundations in their walls and foundations,” Mangi said.

National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta (NACGOND), a coalition of environmental experts recently visited Koluama after being inundated by the complaints of people from the area. The team came back weeping and wailing like Bob Marley and the Wailers over the untold hardship of Koluama and other impacted communities.

The National Coordinator, NACGOND, Dr. Edward Obi, said: “All we hear is a tale of woes. The people have lost their livelihood almost entirely. They can no longer fish or expect anything near their previous yields. The fish have either died or migrated to other safer regions of the sea.”